Multilayered Backing Plastic Card Holder

ABSTRACT

A card holder comprising a translucent plastic sleeve front and a multilayered card sleeve backing is disclosed. The multilayered card sleeve backing comprises an inner layer of thermoplastic containing a black pigment, a middle layer of thermoplastic containing a white pigment, and an outer layer of thermoplastic containing a predetermined color pigment. The middle layer of thermoplastic is disposed between the inner layer of thermoplastic and the outer layer of thermoplastic. The translucent plastic sleeve front is heat sealed to the multilayered card sleeve backing The inner layer of thermoplastic contains eight percent by weight of black pigment, the middle layer of thermoplastic contains eleven percent by weight of white pigment, and the outer layer of thermoplastic contains twelve percent by weight of the predetermined color pigment.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains generally to protective card holders and moreparticularly to a card holder having a multilayered extruded plasticbacking.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Game cards are well known. Individuals can collect a number of cards foruse in playing a competitive card game. These games are normally roleplaying games where individuals can use cards that represent differentcharacters in the game. These card based characters can have differentattributes based on information printed on the face of the card.

Many cards used also have special value to players of the game. Specificcards are rare or are not as common as other cards, giving them a highervalue to the user. Users protect these cards by placing them in plasticsleeves. These protective sleeves are composed of a completelytranslucent plastic. This presents a problem. As cards get used, minorimperfections may be seen on the back of the card even though the cardis protected by plastic. This may permit the competitor to recognize acard before the user plays it. What is needed is a plastic card holderwith a colored backing to prevent the back of a card from beingrecognized.

Colored plastic is known. However, obtaining the specific color orvibrancy desired by users is complicated, difficult, or sometimesimpossible. To obtain a bright color, more pigment is required. However,adding pigment to a translucent plastic alone does not solve the issueas the result is a colored translucent plastic. User's desire a coloredopaque plastic. However, adding enough pigment to an opaque plastic isinsufficient. A large amount of pigment must be added to a plastic resinto result in a colored opaque plastic.

Many plastic card sleeves are formed by heat sealing plastic layerstogether. Difficulties are encountered when attempting to heat seal alayer of colored opaque plastic with a layer of translucent plastic. Theamount of pigment required to form a colored opaque backing affects thephysical properties of the colored opaque plastic, resulting in unevenor ineffective seals between the layer of colored opaque plastic and thelayer of translucent plastic. What is needed is a plastic card sleevewith a colored backing which is opaque to prevent the passage of lightand utilizes a series of colors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basicunderstanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summaryis not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identifykey/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its solepurpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude tothe more detailed description that is presented later.

The invention is directed toward a card holder comprising a translucentplastic sleeve front and a multilayered card sleeve backing Themultilayered card sleeve backing comprises an inner layer ofthermoplastic containing a black pigment, a middle layer ofthermoplastic containing a white pigment, and an outer layer ofthermoplastic containing a predetermined color pigment. The middle layerof thermoplastic is disposed between the inner layer of thermoplasticand the outer layer of thermoplastic. The translucent plastic sleevefront is heat sealed to the multilayered card sleeve backing. Thetranslucent sleeve front is disposed adjacent to the inner layer ofthermoplastic of the multilayered card sleeve backing

In another embodiment, the inner layer of thermoplastic contains eightpercent by weight of black pigment, the middle layer of thermoplasticcontains eleven percent by weight of white pigment, and the outer layerof thermoplastic contains twelve percent by weight of the predeterminedcolor pigment. The inner layer of thermoplastic is opaque and the outerlayer of thermoplastic is translucent. In addition, the inner layer ofthermoplastic, the middle layer of thermoplastic, and the outer layer ofthermoplastic are coextruded to form a single melted web of polymers.The card holder may further comprise a graphic design disposed on theouter layer of thermoplastic of the multilayered card sleeve backing Thecard holder may be composed of polypropylene, polyethylene, orpolystyrene.

In another embodiment, the card holder is substantially rectangular inshape, having two long sides extending the length of the card holder andtwo short sides extending the width of the card holder. In oneembodiment the translucent plastic sleeve front is heat sealed to themultilayered card sleeve backing along one of the short sides and two ofthe long sides. In another embodiment the translucent plastic sleevefront is heat sealed to the multilayered card sleeve backing along oneof the long sides and two of the short sides.

Still other embodiments of the present invention will become readilyapparent to those skilled in this art from the following descriptionwherein there is shown and described the embodiments of this invention,simply by way of illustration of the best modes suited to carry out theinvention. As it will be realized, the invention is capable of otherdifferent embodiments and its several details are capable ofmodifications in various obvious aspects all without departing from thescope of the invention. Accordingly, the drawing and descriptions willbe regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various exemplary embodiments of this invention will be described indetail, wherein like reference numerals refer to identical or similarcomponents, with reference to the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view of the multiple layers constituting the card sleevebacking;

FIG. 2A is a view of the multiple layers constituting the card sleevebacking;

FIG. 2B is a close up side view of the card sleeve backing;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the card sleeve backing;

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the card sleeve backing and cardsleeve front;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the card holder;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the card holder and a card;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the card holder with a card;

FIG. 8 is a back view of the card holder;

FIG. 9 is a back view of the card holder; and

FIG. 10 is a front view of the card holder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The claimed subject matter is now described with reference to thedrawings. In the following description, for purposes of explanation,numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the claimed subject matter. It may be evident, however,that the claimed subject matter may be practiced with or without anycombination of these specific details, without departing from the spiritand scope of this invention and the claims.

Referring to FIG. 1, the multiple layers composing the card sleevebacking are displayed. The card sleeve backing is formed by extrudingthree layers of polymer together to form a multiple layered material.The card sleeve backing is formed by extruding an inner layer 100, amiddle layer 110, and an outer layer 120. As shown in FIG. 2A, the innerlayer 100 is adjacent to the middle layer 110. The middle layer 110 isbetween the inner layer 100 and the outer layer 120. As shown in FIG.2B, the inner layer 100, middle layer 110, and outer layer 120 aremelted together during the extrusion process to form the card sleevebacking 150.

To achieve the vibrant color desired by consumers in the card sleevebacking 150, a specific configuration is used for the multiple layers.Each of the three layers comprise one-third of the thickness of thetotal card sleeve backing 150. Each of the three layers is composed of athermoplastic. The inner layer 100 is composed of a thermoplastic with ablack pigment. The inner layer 100 has a pigment load of eight percent(8%). This percentage is calculated as eight percent (8%) by weight ofblack pigment as mixed with the base resin polymer before heating toform the inner layer 100 during the extrusion process. The middle layer110 is composed of a thermoplastic with white pigment. The middle layer110 has a pigment load of eleven percent (11%). This percentage iscalculated as eleven percent (11%) by weight of white pigment as mixedwith the base resin polymer before heating to form the middle layer 110during the extrusion process. The outer layer 120 is composed of athermoplastic with the desired colored pigment. The outer layer 120 hasa pigment load of twelve percent (12%). This percentage is calculated astwelve percent (12%) by weight of the desired colored pigment as mixedwith the base resin polymer before heating to form the outer layer 120during the extrusion process. In other embodiments a range ofpercentages may be utilized while effecting substantially the sameresults. For instance, the inner layer 100 may have a pigment loadranging from six percent (6%) to ten percent (10%). The middle layer 110may have a pigment load ranging from nine percent (9%) to thirteenpercent (13%). The outer layer 120 may have a pigment load ranging fromnine percent (9%) to thirteen percent (13%).

The black inner layer 100 is opaque and prevents the passage of lightthrough the card sleeve backing 150. The white middle layer 110 presentsa background for the color of the outer layer 120. The colored outerlayer 120 is composed of translucent colored plastic to avoid theproblems presented by opaque colored plastic.

To make the card sleeve, as illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the cardsleeve is formed by utilizing the card sleeve backing 150 and applying atranslucent sleeve front 200 to the card sleeve backing 150. Thetranslucent sleeve front 100 placed adjacent to the inner layer 100 ofthe card sleeve backing 150. The translucent sleeve front 200 is thenheat sealed to the card sleeve backing 150. As shown in FIG. 5, thefront of the resulting card sleeve 300 is displayed. The card sleeve 300has heat sealing 310 around three sides. The card sleeve 300 issubstantially rectangular in shape with two sides 320, 324 disposedalong the width of the card sleeve 300 and two sides 322, 326 disposedalong the length of the card sleeve 300. The card sleeve has an opening330 to permit a user to insert a card into the card sleeve 300. Asillustrated in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, a user places a desired card 10through the opening 330 to fully insert the card 10 into the card sleeve300.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the colored back side 340 of the card sleeve300 is displayed. The colored back side 340 is opaque and fully hidesthe card 10 placed in the card sleeve 300. In addition, as illustratedin FIG. 9, the colored back side 340 of the card sleeve 300 may furthercomprise a graphical design 350. The graphical design 350 may be anysize and shape. The graphical design 350 may be a simple design, acomplex design, a cartoon figure, or a photographic image.

The card sleeve 300 may be any shape, size, or configuration. Asillustrated in FIG. 10 the opening 330 may be along the width of thecard sleeve 300 with heat sealing 310 around the remaining perimeter.The card sleeve 300 may be rectangular, but may also be a square,hexagonal, or any other shape. The card sleeve 300 may be any thickness.The multiple layers constituting the card sleeve backing 150 may each beany thickness. In the preferred embodiment the inner layer 100 is forty(40) microns in thickness, the middle layer 110 is forty (40) microns inthickness, and the outer layer 120 is forty (40) microns in thickness.In another embodiment the entire thickness of the card sleeve backing isone-hundred (100) microns, with each layer being equal in thickness. Inanother embodiment, each layer has a different thickness. The totalthickness of one-hundred (100) microns permits the card sleeve backing150 to be more pliable during the sealing process.

The polymer utilized to form the card sleeve 300 and all of its partsmay be any thermopolymer. In the preferred embodiment the card sleeve300 comprises polypropylene. In other embodiments the card sleeve 300may be manufactured from polystyrene, acid-free polypropylene, ABS,polyethylene, or any combination of commercially available polymers. Allparts of the card sleeve 300 may be made out of the same or differentpolymers.

What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subjectmatter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivablecombination of components or methodologies for purposes of describingthe claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art canrecognize that many further combinations and permutations of such matterare possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended toembrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fallwithin the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to theextent that the term “includes” is used in either the detaileddescription or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in amanner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpretedwhen employed as a transitional word in a claim.

The foregoing method descriptions and the process flow diagrams areprovided merely as illustrative examples and are not intended to requireor imply that the steps of the various embodiments must be performed inthe order presented. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the artthe order of steps in the foregoing embodiments may be performed in anyorder. Words such as “thereafter,” “then,” “next,” etc. are not intendedto limit the order of the steps; these words are simply used to guidethe reader through the description of the methods. Further, anyreference to claim elements in the singular, for example, using thearticles “a,” “an” or “the” is not to be construed as limiting theelement to the singular.

The preceding description of the disclosed embodiments is provided toenable any person skilled in the art to make or use the presentinvention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles definedherein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is notintended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to beaccorded the widest scope consistent with the following claims and theprinciples and novel features disclosed herein.

1) A card holder comprising a) a translucent plastic sleeve front; b) amultilayered extruded card sleeve backing comprising i) an inner layerof thermoplastic containing a black pigment; ii) a middle layer ofthermoplastic containing a white pigment; iii) an outer layer ofthermoplastic containing a predetermined color pigment; iv) wherein saidmiddle layer of thermoplastic is disposed between said inner layer ofthermoplastic and said outer layer of thermoplastic; v) wherein saidinner layer of thermoplastic, said middle layer of thermoplastic, andsaid outer layer of thermoplastic are coextruded to form a single meltedweb of polymers; c) wherein said translucent plastic sleeve front isheat sealed to said multilayered card sleeve backing; d) wherein saidtranslucent sleeve front is disposed adjacent to said inner layer ofthermoplastic of said multilayered card sleeve backing. 2) The cardholder of claim 1 a) wherein said inner layer of thermoplastic containsfrom six percent by weight to ten percent by weight of black pigment; b)wherein said middle layer of thermoplastic contains from nine percent byweight to thirteen percent by weight of white pigment; c) wherein saidouter layer of thermoplastic contains from nine percent by weight tothirteen percent by weight of said predetermined color pigment. 3) Thecard holder of claim 2 a) wherein said inner layer of thermoplasticcontains eight percent by weight of black pigment; b) wherein saidmiddle layer of thermoplastic contains eleven percent by weight of whitepigment; c) wherein said outer layer of thermoplastic contains twelvepercent by weight of said predetermined color pigment. 4) The cardholder of claim 3 a) wherein said inner layer of thermoplastic isopaque; b) wherein said outer layer of thermoplastic is translucent. 5)The card holder of claim 4 further comprising a graphic design disposedon said outer layer of thermoplastic of said multilayered card sleevebacking 6) The card holder of claim 5 wherein said card holder iscomposed of polypropylene. 7) The card holder of claim 5 wherein saidcard holder is composed of polyethylene. 8) The card holder of claim 4a) wherein said card holder is substantially rectangular in shape,having two long sides extending the length of the card holder and twoshort sides extending the width of the card holder; b) wherein saidtranslucent plastic sleeve front is heat sealed to said multilayeredcard sleeve backing along one of said short sides and two of said longsides. 9) The card holder of claim 8 wherein said card holder iscomposed of polypropylene. 10) The card holder of claim 8 wherein saidcard holder is composed of polyethylene. 11) The card holder of claim 8further comprising a graphic design disposed on said outer layer ofthermoplastic of said multilayered card sleeve backing 12) The cardholder of claim 4 a) wherein said card holder is substantiallyrectangular in shape, having two long sides extending the length of thecard holder and two short sides extending the width of the card holder;b) wherein said translucent plastic sleeve front is heat sealed to saidmultilayered card sleeve backing along one of said long sides and two ofsaid short sides. 13) The card holder of claim 12 wherein said cardholder is composed of polypropylene. 14) The card holder of claim 12wherein said card holder is composed of polyethylene. 15) The cardholder of claim 12 further comprising a graphic design disposed on saidouter layer of thermoplastic of said multilayered card sleeve backing16) The card holder of claim 2 a) wherein said card holder issubstantially rectangular in shape, having two long sides extending thelength of the card holder and two short sides extending the width of thecard holder; b) wherein said translucent plastic sleeve front is heatsealed to said multilayered card sleeve backing along one of said shortsides and two of said long sides. 17) The card holder of claim 16 a)wherein said card holder is substantially rectangular in shape, havingtwo long sides extending the length of the card holder and two shortsides extending the width of the card holder; b) wherein saidtranslucent plastic sleeve front is heat sealed to said multilayeredcard sleeve backing along one of said long sides and two of said shortsides.